Store development in Strutherhill given go-ahead.

Jan 28 2010 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

TENANTS have lost their battle to stop a controversial retail development going ahead in Larkhall.

Now plans for a convenience store in Strutherhill have been given the go-ahead – despite six letters of objection.

The Hamilton Area Committee yesterday (Wednesday) approved John Colhoun’s application for building a shop, and two other retail units, one of which is a takeaway on vacant land in Craigbank Road.

Strutherhill Tenants Association and five individuals objected to the proposals.

They claimed the plans would cause traffic congestion in the area and wanted the shops built in Patchy Park.

But the council’s road department were consulted over the proposals and had no objection to the location.

They said traffic volumes on Craigbank Road and Ness Gardens were low.

And insisted the applicant provides 16 off-street parking spaces to service the development. They say this is satisfactory and should alleviate concerns with regard to congestion.

They also pointed out that because it is a local shop it is likely a number of potential customers will walk to the units.

The roads department said the Patchy Park site wasn’t suitable for the size of the retail development proposed and would have been more likely to create parking issues.

Colin McDowall, the council’s planning chief, recommended the scheme be approved and added: “The proposals raise no significant amenity or road safety issues.

“The quality and character of this area will be significantly improved through the redevelopment of an underused area of ground with the introduction of a development of high quality that will provide a much-needed service required by the local community.”

The shop development will be overlooked by tenants’ homes. On the opposite side of Craigbank Road, there is an area of unmanaged grass which extends to approximately 0.144 hectares.

New vehicle access will be built in front of Craigbank Road to service the development.

The derelict Strutherhill Community Hall, in Riverside Road, which is set to be demolished, is located to the rear of the site.

To the south-west of the site is a relatively substantial electricity sub station which is located at the corner of Craigbank Road/Patchy Park.

The sub station also adjoins the existing retail units located in Patchy Park which are set to be demolished.

Immediately to the north east is the unaffected area of the open land beyond which is a recently constructed children’s play area.

Last September, the Advertiser reported how families in Strutherhill were angry at the prospect of being left without a shop for up to two years.

South Lanarkshire Council plan to demolish rundown shops at Patchy Park as part of a £15m regeneration of the area.

Tenants were angry they are being left without vital shopping facilities in the housing scheme while new shops are built.

A council spokesman said the lease is unlikely to be renewed and the local authority took over ownership of the shop on Wednesday, September 30.

The shop closed for good on Sunday, September 27.